JOHANNESBURG - Today, 16 December the country observes Reconciliation Day commemorated since 1995 to foster social cohesion.
Before that it was Day of the Vow after the Battle of Blood River in 1838.
For many, this day is not just about history but how far the country has come.
While this is an opportunity to renew the commitment to an equal and inclusive South Africa the question still arises as to what does reconciliation truly mean in a country still grappling with the sting of apartheid and the deep divides that continue to affect many South Africans?
READ | Reconciliation Day | Healing historical wounds and forging new futures
In Alexandra, north of Johannesburg, both young and old are redefining the meaning of reconciliation.
Lawrence Ruele working alongside Linda Twala, (75) have become leaders of change in their community through the Phuthaditjhaba organisation which among other things runs a feeding scheme for the elderly and children, cares for the disabled and even offers swimming lessons to youngsters within the community.
Ruele says despite the end of apartheid many still live in poverty.
He says the country is far from perfect but for them to move forward they need to be the ones to make the change.
He says for them reconciliation is looking beyond race, religion, and tribe but instead it’s about working together with like-minded people who have the vision of giving back to the community.
“The most important thing that drives us is the heart of a person and does it match what we do. It's that dream of the rainbow nation that Mandela had. It’s all about doing your bit in this world regardless of how the person is or looks,” he says.
Similarly, educator, artist, and researcher from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Ferida Nerida explores reconciliation through storytelling and art.
Growing up in Mitchells Plain on the Cape flats, Nerida says oftentimes her beauty, texture of hair and skin colour were deemed to be less than others.
She says her work draws inspiration from personal experiences of racism and she uses art as a medium to confront historical wounds and promote healing.
"Art tells a story, placing it in a context that shifts your world," she says. "It acknowledges the past, brings you to the present, and pushes you to the future.
Despite her work's impact, Nerida acknowledges the long road to reconciliation, saying societal divides remain deeply rooted.
The pace of societal healing remains slow says Reverend Mzwandile Molo of the South African Council of Churches as he highlights the persistence of racism, tribalism, and fragmentation.
"There isn’t anything that binds us together as a nation. We only know anger, frustration, and division,” he says
Molo emphasises the role of faith-based organisations in fostering reconciliation. He believes that religion should be used as the ‘coming together’ in teaching young people about the issues of economic transformation.
“We are saying we must all be ready to pay the price. We need to ask what it is we can do to build this nation as a close identity that will allow us to build together,”.
But the work of reconciliation goes beyond the community level. On the national stage the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has been a beacon of hope acknowledging the past wrongs and creating a space for healing.
Based on the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act the commission's core mission was to “uncover truths about severe human rights violations spanning from March 1960 to May 1994.”
Deputy Director-General of the Department of Constitutional Development, Shireen Said, speaks about the ongoing journey of reconciliation in South Africa, shaped by the recommendations of the TRC.
These include reparations such as a R30,000 grant for identified victims or their next of kin, reburials, and educational support for descendants of apartheid victims.
However, some of the TRC's key recommendations such as housing, healthcare improvements, and community rehabilitation still remain unimplemented.
There is also still the matter of the large number of recommended prosecutions awaiting attention from the National Prosecuting Authority.
Said defines the progress over the past 30 years, as milestones achieved, but stresses that national unity and reconciliation are far from complete.
She says socio-economic inequalities remain rooted in apartheid persist, obstructing meaningful democratic participation and accountability.
Adding to this she says while there has been constitutional strides made, these are not enough to address issues of racism that still persist.
Said says for change to happen there has to be a sense of belonging and collective responsibility among South Africans.
As the country commemorates its journey, Said’s reflections alongside that of Molo, Nerida and Ruele remind us that reconciliation is an ongoing process.
It requires a collective effort to bridge the gaps left by history and to ensure every South African feels included in the betterment of the country.
- by Zandile Khumalo